stani
To say stop in Bosnian, use stani.
The word is used to tell someone to cease a physical movement or to stop an action. While stani focuses on stopping movement, other forms like prestani are more commonly used when telling someone to stop a continuous activity or a specific behavior.
Meaning: not to continue (verb)
Which one should you use?
stani is used specifically when telling someone to stop their physical movement or an action, whereas prestani is used for stopping continuous activities or behaviors. Additionally, Prestanite! is a formal way to say stop, while Prestani! is an informal and more colloquial way to say it among friends or acquaintances in a less stern manner.
How does it change in a sentence?
stani is the singular imperative used to command one person to stop. The form stanite is the plural or polite imperative used to command multiple people or to show respect to one person.
Did you know?
- The word stani is a linguistic relative of the English word 'stand', as both derive from the same Proto-Indo-European root.
- In Bosnian, the word stani can be used as a synonym for 'wait', functioning much like the English phrase 'hold on'.
- Using the informal stani instead of the formal stanite when addressing a person of high status can be perceived as an intentional insult.
Examples in context
- Stani!Stop!Tatoeba #7788370 by bokalabocca, translation #448320 by CM
- Prestanite! Molim vas, zaustavite se i obratite pozornost.Stop! Please, stop and pay attention.
- Stani! Nemoj ići tako brzo.Stop! Don't go so fast.
- Stani ovdje, blizu je.Stop here, it is close.
Example conversation
Lejla and Amar are walking and Amar is talking too fast.
- LejlaAmar, stani malo, ne mogu te pratiti.Amar, stop for a bit, I can't keep up with you.
- AmarIzvini, zaboravio sam da brzo hodam.Sorry, I forgot that I walk fast.
- LejlaSada možemo polako nastaviti put.Now we can continue on our way slowly.
- AmarU redu, idemo polako.Alright, let's go slowly.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
